pasta

American  

[pah-stuh, pas-tuh] / ˈpɑ stə, ˈpæs tə /

noun

1. any of various flour-and-egg food preparations of Italian origin, made of thin, unleavened dough and produced in a variety of forms, usually served with a sauce and sometimes stuffed.

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pasta British  

/ ˈpæstə /

noun

1. any of several variously shaped edible preparations made from a flour and water dough, such as spaghetti

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Etymology

Origin of pasta

1870–75; < Italian < Late Latin. See paste

Explanation

Pasta is any Italian style of noodle, including spaghetti, ziti, and macaroni. Your favorite type of pasta might be fettuccine, especially when it's served in a creamy Alfredo sauce. Pasta refers to the noodle, or to the dish that contains it, like vegetable lasagna or spaghetti carbonara. Most pasta is made from semolina flour and water, and often eggs. The stiff dough is rolled very thin and then cut into shapes or long ribbons. It can be cooked from this soft, fresh state, or (more commonly) dried, packaged, and sold. Pasta is an Italian word (surprise, surprise), from Late Latin, which means "dough or paste."

Example Sentences

Although the Italians are long gone, Somalis retain their taste for a good pasta with ragù.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Previous school food standards introduced in 2015 also included fruit and vegetable requirements, limiting sugar in drinks, and an emphasis on wholegrain foods instead of refined carbohydrates, like white bread or pasta.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Add more pasta water as needed — the sauce should lightly coat, not clump.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

The restaurant serves Italian food and makes its pasta from scratch.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Nali lifted the pasta to her face and sniffed.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Related Words

• gnocchi
• linguine
• macaroni
• ravioli
• spaghetti
• tortellini